Luminance enhancement optical substrates with optical defect masking structures

0001This application is a Divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/825,139, filed on Jul. 2, 2007, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,883,647, which is commonly assigned to the assignee of the present invention, which claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/818,044, filed Jun. 30, 2006, and which are fully incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

0002The publications noted in the disclosure herein are each fully incorporated by reference, as if fully set forth in its entirety herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

00031. Field of the Invention

0004The present invention relates to optical substrates having a structured surface, particularly to optical substrates for brightness enhancement, and more particularly to brightness enhancement substrates for use in flat panel displays having a planar light source.

00052. Description of Related Art

0006Flat panel display technology is commonly used in television displays, computer displays, and handheld electronics (e.g., cellular phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), etc.). Liquid crystal display (LCD) is a type of flat panel display, which deploys a liquid crystal (LC) module having an array of pixels to render an image. In backlight LCDs, brightness enhancement films use prismatic structures to direct light along the viewing axes (i.e., normal to the display), which enhances the brightness of the light viewed by the user of the display and which allows the system to use less power to create a desired level of on-axis illumination.

0007Heretofore, brightness enhancement films were largely provided with parallel prismatic grooves, lenticular lenses or pyramids on the light emitting surface of the films, which change the angle of the film/air interface for light rays exiting the films and cause light incident obliquely at the other surface of the films to be redistributed in a direction more normal to the exit surface of the films. The brightness enhancement films have a light input surface that is smooth, through which light enters from the backlight module.

0008Heretofore, brightness enhancement films are made up of two layers, including a support base layer and a structured layer. <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> depicts a sectional structure representative of prior art brightness enhancement films. The brightness enhancement film <b>100</b> includes a base layer <b>102</b> made of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and a structured layer <b>104</b> of prism structures made of acrylic, which function to redirecting light.

0009The structured surface of brightness enhancement film <b>100</b> is formed after bonding a layer of materials (e.g., an acrylic or polycarbonate layer) to the base layer <b>102</b> prior to forming the prism structures in the acrylic layer to form the structured layer <b>104</b>. The prism structures in the structured layer <b>104</b> may be formed using a number of process techniques, including micromachining using hard tools to form master molds or the like for forming the prism structures. The hard tools may be very small diamond tools mounted on CNC (Computer Numeric Control) machines (e.g. turning, milling and ruling/shaping machines), such as known STS (Slow Tool Servo) and FTS (Fast Tool Servo). U.S. Pat. No. 6,581,286, for instance, discloses one of the applications of the FTS for making grooves on an optical film by using a thread cutting method. The tool is mounted onto the machine, to create longitudinal prisms in a plane. The mold may be used to form the structured layer through hot embossing a substrate, and/or through the addition of an ultraviolet curing or thermal setting materials in which the structures are formed.

0010As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, the bottom of the valleys <b>106</b> of the prisms in the structured layer <b>104</b> is not at the surface of the base layer <b>102</b>, but spaced at a distance d from the contacting surface of the base layer by acrylic material. In general, the valley bottom thickness d range between 0.3 to 3 micrometers. In order to obtain the bottom thickness, several parameters must be controlled during the curing process to form the structured surface. It has been found that due to inherent limitations during manufacturing processes (including the mold forming process and the structured surface forming process), it is challenging to control a consistent valley bottom thickness d. As noted in the earlier filed U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/635,802 (which is incorporated by reference herein), unwanted optical cosmetic defects such as ‘chatter’ and/or non-uniformity of the brightness enhancement film are introduced as a result of non-uniformity in the valley bottom thickness in the structured layer. This results in a phenomenon that is easily seen for existing brightness enhancement films, in which repeated dark shades/lines are seen from the planar light source transmitted through the brightness enhancement film.

0011The valley bottom thickness can be completely missing (i.e., without resin above the base layer, exposing the base layer) at some locations in the structured layer, as a result of defects introduced by the manufacturing processes, as affected by, for example, the manufacturing conditions, environmental specifications and handling processes. The locations with missing valley bottom thickness create optical cosmetic artifacts in the displayed image which are perceivable to a naked eye, such as white spots and white lines in the display image. The artifacts are perceivable because of the high contrast between the exposed base layer and surrounding unexposed areas. For example, a white line defect (see <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> at <b>108</b>) is the result of a gap (e.g., 5 μm wide by 620 μm length) of no valley bottom thickness between two prisms, which may be caused by the replication process using the mold. A white spot defect (see <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> at <b>109</b>) is the result of a spot (e.g., a 8 μm by 20 μm to 15 μm by 40 μm hole, or even larger 20 μm by 70 μm hole) of no valley bottom thickness at a spot along a valley, which may be caused during releasing the structured layer film from the mold, as resin (e.g., acrylic) was left on the surface of the mold. Other defects may include a row of holes lined up to result in a white line defect in the displayed image viewed by the naked eye.

0012On the other hand, careless handling may damage the peaks, valleys and/or facets of prisms, for example, by scratches or cutting marks. Other physical conditions and structural deficiencies may also expose the base layer and/or damage prism peaks, valleys and/or facets, for example, cracks and indentations in the structured layer, and foreign particles or materials introduced during molding process but subsequently released from the structured layer.

0013The push to improve image quality elevates the cosmetic requirements of luminance enhancement optical substrates. A viewer may easily perceive even very small isolated defects. To overcome the optical cosmetic defects noted above, several approaches have been attempted. One solution is to provide a very clean room and use extraordinary care in the manufacturing process, and employ extremely critical quality control procedures. This will significantly decrease throughput, and also highly increase production costs. Another solution is to provide a diffuser to the display. Diffusers with matte structures may mask many of the defects and increase the production yield. This solution, however, increases the components used and enlarges the volume and weight of the display.

0014What is needed is an optical substrate structure that both enhances brightness and reduces the effects of structural defects on perceived image quality.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

0015The present invention is directed to a luminance enhancement film comprising an optical substrate (which may be supported by a base layer) that possesses a structured surface that enhances luminance or brightness and reduces the effects of structural defects on perceived image quality. In accordance with the present invention, user perceivable optical cosmetic defects caused by manufacturing or handling can be masked by introducing defined structural irregularities in the optical substrate. The optical cosmetic defects would be blended with the optical effects introduced by such structural irregularities, with the cosmetic defects reduced in prominence in the display image, to effectively hide, mask or largely reduce certain cosmetic defects.

0016In one aspect of the present invention, the pre-defined irregularities introduced may be in-kind to the anticipate defects. In one embodiment of the present invention, optical defects of the type comprising non-facet flat sections in the prism structure of the optical substrate (e.g., flat-bottom valleys with a certain valley bottom thickness above the base layer, and/or flat-top peaks, and/or openings in the optical substrates that expose flat sections of underlying base layer) can be masked by providing distributed in-kind irregularities having defined non-facet flat sections (e.g., flat-bottom valleys, and/or flat-top peaks, and/or openings exposing sections of underlying base layer), to diffuse the prominence of the original defects with the introduced irregularities. The in-kind irregularities introduced may not need to be of the exact same type, number, shape and size as the original defects. For example, openings (e.g., holes or gaps) in the optical substrate exposing flat sections of the underlying base layer, or flat-bottom valleys, or flat-top peaks, may be masked by at least one of flat-bottom valleys and/or flat-top peaks and/or openings exposing flat sections of underlying base layer. If the defects are other than non-facet flat sections noted above, the in-kind irregularities intentional introduced into the optical substrate would likewise take on in-kind attributes other than non-facet flat sections.

0017In another aspect of the present invention, regardless of the anticipated defects, the irregularities introduced may simply be defined non-facet flat sections (e.g., flat-bottom valleys, and/or flat-top peaks, and/or openings exposing sections of an underlying base layer). The non-facet flat-sections of the irregularities may still mask other types of defects found on the prism structure of the optical substrate, such as made by, for example, scratches, cutting marks, cracks, indentations and/or other unintended structural defects in the prism structure, and/or foreign particles or materials introduced during molding process, which may or may not be subsequently released from the prism structure. The defects may be found anywhere on the prism structure (e.g., prism peaks, valley and/or facets, and/or underlying layer, if present, which supports the optical substrate).

0018The predefined irregularities introduced may be distributed across the optical substrate in an orderly, semi-orderly, random, or quasi-random manner. The predefined irregularities introduced may not mask all types of defects present in an actual luminance enhancement substrate. The predefined irregularities to be deployed in an actual luminance enhancement substrate may comprise several types of irregularities (e.g., a combination of non-facet flat sections, in-kind or otherwise, and other irregularities that are neither in-kind nor non-facet flat sections).

0019The optical substrate may have a base portion (which may be unitary or monolithic to the prism structure, which is equivalent to and having similar characteristics as a separate underlying base layer), which has sufficient thickness to provide structural integrity to the final luminance enhancement film.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

0020For a fuller understanding of the nature and advantages of the invention, as well as the preferred mode of use, reference should be made to the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the following drawings, like reference numerals designate like or similar parts throughout the drawings.

0021<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref> schematically illustrates a sectional view of a prior art brightness enhancement film.

0022<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> schematically illustrates the structure of an LCD having an optical substrate, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

0023<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> is a schematic perspective view of the structured light output surface of an optical substrate, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

0024<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4A</figref> is a schematic perspective view of the structured light output surface of an optical substrate, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention; <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4B</figref> is a sectional view taken along line <b>4</b>B-<b>4</b>B in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4A</figref>.

0025<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 5A to 5C</figref> are sectional views of structured output surfaces of optical substrates, in accordance with further embodiments of the present invention.

0026<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 6 and 7</figref> are schematic plan views of the structured light output surfaces of optical substrates, in accordance with further embodiments of the present invention.

0027<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref> is a schematic view of an electronic device comprising an LCD panel that incorporates the inventive optical substrate of the present invention, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

0028The present description is of the best presently contemplated mode of carrying out the invention. This invention has been described herein in reference to various embodiments and drawings. This description is made for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention and should not be taken in a limiting sense. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that variations and improvements may be accomplished in view of these teachings without deviating from the scope and spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention is best determined by reference to the appended claims.

0029The present invention is directed to luminance enhancement substrate having an optical substrate (which may be supported by a base layer) that possesses a structured surface that enhances luminance or brightness and reduces the effects of structural defects on perceived image quality. In accordance with the present invention, user perceivable optical cosmetic defects caused by manufacturing or handling can be masked, largely reduced, or reduced in prominance by introducing defined structural irregularities in the optical substrate, which may be in-kind to the anticipated defects.

0030The optical defect masking aspect of the present invention is applicable to various optical substrates having various types of structured light output surfaces. The optical substrate may be in the form of a film, sheet, plate, and the like, which may be flexible or rigid, having a two or three-dimensionally varying, structured light output surface that comprises a regular and/or irregular prism structure, and a non-structured, smooth, planar, light input surface. The prism structure at the light output surface may be viewed as comprising longitudinal regular and/or irregular prism and/or prism blocks arranged generally laterally (side-by-side), defining peaks and valleys (a facet is defined between each adjacent peak and valley). In one embodiment, the light output surface and the light input surface are generally parallel to each other in the overall optical substrate structure (i.e., do not form an overall substrate structure that is generally tapered, concave, or convex). In another embodiment, the optical substrate structure may be regular prism structure at the light output surface, which may be viewed as comprising side-by-side or lateral rows of regular prism blocks wherein the peaks or valleys of adjacent rows of prism blocks may be parallel.

0031<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref> illustrates an example of a flat panel display. A backlight LCD <b>10</b>, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, comprises a liquid crystal (LC) display module <b>12</b>, a planar light source in the form of a backlight module <b>14</b>, and a number of optical films interposed between the LC module <b>12</b> and the backlight module <b>14</b>. The LC module <b>12</b> comprises liquid crystals sandwiched between two transparent substrates, and control circuitry defining a two-dimensional array of pixels. The backlight module <b>14</b> provides planar light distribution, either of the backlit type in which the light source extends over a plane, or of the edge-lit type as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>, in which a linear light source <b>16</b> is provided at an edge of a light guide <b>18</b>. A reflector <b>20</b> is provided to direct light from the linear light source <b>16</b> through the edge of the light guide <b>18</b> into the light guide <b>18</b>. The light guide is structured (e.g., with a tapered plate and light reflective and/or scattering surfaces defined on the bottom surface facing away from the LC module <b>12</b>) to distribute and direct light through the top planar surface facing towards LC module <b>12</b>. The optical films may include upper and lower diffuser films <b>22</b> and <b>24</b> that diffuse light from the planar surface of the light guide <b>18</b>. The optical films further include a structured surface optical substrate in accordance with the present invention, which redistributes the light passing through such that the distribution of the light exiting the films is directed more along the normal to the surface of the films. In the illustrated embodiment, there are two structured optical substrates <b>26</b> and <b>28</b> (which may be similar) in accordance with the present invention, which are arranged with the longitudinal prism structures generally orthogonal between the two substrates. The optical substrates <b>26</b> and <b>28</b> are often referred in the art as luminance or brightness enhancement films, light redirecting films, and directional diffusing films. The light entering the LC module <b>12</b> through such a combination of optical films is uniform spatially over the planar area of the LC module <b>12</b> and has relatively strong normal light intensity. The optical substrates in accordance with the present invention may be used with LCDs to be deployed for displays, for example, for televisions, notebook computers, monitors, portable devices such as cell phones, PDAs and the like, to make the displays brighter.

0032Refer to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, the brightness enhancement film <b>26</b> of the present invention includes an optical substrate <b>30</b> adhered to a support or base layer <b>31</b>. <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> (as well as the embodiments illustrated in the other figures) may schematically represent the features of a section of an optical substrate <b>30</b> or an entire substrate <b>30</b>. The optical substrate has a light input surface <b>32</b> that is planar and smooth, and a light output surface <b>34</b> that has a prismatic structure that may be viewed as comprising longitudinal regular prism blocks <b>35</b> arranged in lateral rows (i.e., side-by-side). A prism block <b>35</b> may be viewed as a building block for the optical substrate. It is noted that, as will be apparent in the discussion herein below, the prism blocks <b>35</b> are connected to adjoining prism blocks <b>35</b> in longitudinal and/or lateral directions. Because the prism blocks <b>35</b> are not in fact individual discrete blocks assembled together, the material of the prism blocks <b>35</b> are in a continuum or continuous monolithic structure, with no physical contact surfaces or joining surfaces per se.

0033In one embodiment of the present invention, the light output surface <b>34</b> and the light input surface <b>32</b> are generally parallel to each other in the overall optical substrate structure (i.e., do not form an overall substrate structure that is generally tapered like a light guide plate in a backlight module, or that is concave or convex). While <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> shows the base <b>31</b> to be of uniform thickness, it may be non-uniform thickness. The end section of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref> when enlarge would look generally similar to <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>, with the exception of the presence of any defects <b>40</b> or irregularities <b>42</b> discussed below.

0034The prism blocks <b>35</b> each has two longitudinal facets <b>33</b>, or longitudinal flat surfaces, forming a longitudinal peak <b>36</b>. The facets <b>33</b> of adjoining prism blocks <b>35</b> intersect to define a valley <b>37</b>. The facets <b>33</b> are slanted with respect to the light input surface <b>32</b>, which provide intended optical reflections and refractions in connection with luminance enhancement. The facets <b>33</b> are distinguished from non-facet surfaces. Non-facet surfaces instead refer to flat structures generally parallel to the light input surface <b>32</b>, or facing generally in the z-direction (defined below). Non-facet surfaces may be unintended structural defects in the prismatic structure, which may arise from manufacturing or handling, or intentionally introduced irregularities for masking the optical defects caused by such original structural defects, as further discussed below.

0035For ease of reference, the following orthogonal x, y, z coordinate system would be adopted in explaining the various directions. As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, the x-axis is in the direction across the peaks and valleys, also referred to as the lateral direction. The y-axis is orthogonal to the x-axis, in the plane of the substrate <b>30</b>, in a generally longitudinal direction of the prism blocks <b>35</b>. The prism blocks may be regular or irregular (as disclosed in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/450,145, commonly assigned to the assignee of the present invention, and is fully incorporated by reference herein). In the illustrated embodiment, the prism blocks <b>35</b> are regular in geometry. The light input surface <b>32</b> lies in an x-y plane. For a rectangular piece of the optical substrate, the x and y-axes would be along the orthogonal edges of the substrate <b>30</b>. The z-axis is orthogonal to the x and y-axes. The edge showing the ends of the lateral rows of the prism blocks <b>35</b> lies in the x-z plane, such as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>. References to cross sections of a prism block <b>35</b> would be sections taken in x-z planes, at various locations along the y axis. Further, references to a horizontal direction would be in an x-y plane, and references to a vertical direction would be in the z-direction. Hereinafter, references to heights of peaks and valleys are measured in the z-direction with respect to the interfacing planar surface between the adjoining substrate <b>30</b> and base layer <b>31</b>. It is noted that the references to peak vertex angles herein refer to the angles of the peak <b>36</b>, and valley vertex angles herein refer to the angles of the valleys <b>37</b>, as viewed along cross sections in the x-z planes at locations along the y direction, as defined above.

0036In the illustrated embodiment, the prism blocks <b>35</b> are shown to be substantially similar to one another, and have uniform cross-sections along the longitudinal direction (y-axis). The peak vertex angles are similar (70 to 110 degrees), and the valley vertex angles are also similar to one another (70 to 110 degrees). It is noted that in the illustrated sectional views in x-z planes, the peak vertex angles and the valley vertex angles may be rounded instead of a sharp point, due to manufacturing constraints. The height of the valleys <b>37</b> may vary in the lateral (x) direction of the respective valleys <b>37</b>, and may also further vary in the longitudinal (y) direction. The prism blocks may possess a structure having structure, geometry and features that are disclosed in earlier filed copending U.S. patent application Ser. Nos. 11/450,145 and 11/635,802, which have been commonly assigned to the assignee of the present invention, and which had been incorporated by reference herein.

0037There is a thin layer of material of thickness d (similarly shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 1</figref>) below the valleys <b>37</b> in the optical substrate <b>30</b>, which defines a valley bottom thickness or valley height above the top surface of the base layer <b>31</b>, except where structural defects <b>40</b> arose from manufacturing or handling, and where irregularities <b>42</b> have been intentionally introduced in accordance with the present invention. The valley bottom thickness could vary across the lateral direction or longitudinal direction, from substantially zero thickness, to a defined thickness D (e.g., 0.3 to 10 micrometers), with the exception at those locations where defects <b>40</b> (from manufacturing and handling) and irregularities <b>42</b> (introduced in accordance with the present invention) cause the base layer <b>31</b> to be exposed without coverage of material of the optical substrate <b>30</b>. In the illustrated embodiment in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>, the heights, or bottom thickness, of the valleys <b>37</b> are constant, with bottom thickness is D, with the exception of above noted defects <b>40</b> and irregularities <b>42</b>. Only a few scattered defects <b>40</b> and irregularities <b>42</b> are schematically illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>. The number, extent and coverage of the irregularities <b>42</b> to effectively mask optical defects perceivable by a user may be more than what is schematically illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>.

0038In the disclosed embodiments, the defects <b>40</b> are generally unintended, isolated, randomly generated (e.g., inherent from manufacturing and/or handling), non-facet flat sections in the prism structure of the optical substrate. For example, the non-facet flat sections may be present as flat-bottom valleys with a certain valley bottom thickness above the base layer, and/or flat-top peaks, and/or openings in the light input surface <b>32</b> of the optical substrate which expose flat sections of the underlying base layer. The non-facet flat sections of defects <b>40</b> may be of various shapes, geometries and sizes (e.g., longitudinal, or spots). The defects may be defined along valleys between adjacent prism blocks in the structured surface, either with adjacent facets extending to the top surface of the base layer <b>31</b> to define a flat-bottom valley (i.e., an opening at the light input surface <b>32</b>, with the flat-bottom valley floor defined by the top surface of the underlying base layer <b>31</b>), or facets extending to a flat section of the optical substrate material (to define a flat-bottom valley within the optical substrate <b>30</b>), or with an opening extending through the valley bottom (the opening having generally vertical sidewalls through the valley bottom). By nature of defects, the actual defects <b>40</b> present on a single optical substrate <b>30</b> (and hence luminance enhancement film <b>26</b>) may comprise a combination of the various forms of defects noted above, depending on the defects typically encountered as a result of manufacturing processes and handling. The defects <b>40</b> may be caused by molding defects, mold release, abrasion, scratches, etc.

0039In accordance with the present invention, perceivable optical cosmetic defects caused by the structural defects in the optical substrate <b>30</b> can be effectively masked from perception by distributing pre-defined structural irregularities in the optical substrate <b>30</b>, which may be in-kind to the anticipated defects. In one embodiment, the irregularities <b>42</b> may be in-kind to the anticipated defects, which take similar form (e.g., similar characteristic physical attributes) as the defects <b>40</b>. For example, the defects <b>40</b> can be masked by distributing intentionally introduced, in-kind, pre-defined non-facet flat sections (e.g., flat-bottom valleys, and/or flat-top peaks, and/or openings exposing sections of underlying base layer), to diffuse the prominence of the original defects with the introduced irregularities. The in-kind irregularities <b>42</b> introduced may not need to be of the exact same type, number, shape and size as the original defects <b>40</b>, but share similar physical attributes significant to masking those defects (e.g., non-facet flat-sections). For example, openings (e.g., holes or gaps) in the optical substrate <b>30</b> exposing flat sections of the underlying base layer <b>31</b>, or flat-bottom valleys, or flat-top peaks, may be masked by at least one of flat-bottom valleys and/or flat-top peaks and/or openings exposing flat sections of underlying base layer. The irregularities introduced may be distributed across the optical substrate in an orderly, semi-orderly, random, or quasi-random manner.

0040The in-kind irregularities <b>42</b> intentionally introduced into the optical substrate <b>30</b> may comprise non-facet flat sections of various forms, such as in the form of openings defined in the light input surface <b>32</b> of various shapes, geometries and sizes (e.g., longitudinal gaps, holes that are elliptical, rhombus, oval, round, etc.), flat-bottom valleys, and/or flat-top peaks. The non-facet flat irregularities <b>42</b> may be defined along valleys between adjacent prism blocks in the structured surface, either with adjacent facets extending to the top surface of the base layer <b>31</b> to define a flat-bottom valley (i.e., an opening at the light input surface <b>32</b>, with the flat-bottom valley floor defined by the top surface of the underlying base layer <b>31</b>), or facets extending to a flat section of the optical substrate material (to define a flat-bottom valley within the optical substrate <b>30</b>), or with an opening extending through the valley bottom (the opening having generally vertical sidewalls through the valley bottom). The non-facet flat irregularities may range in width (in the x-direction) on the order of 0.5 to 200 μm, and range in length (in the y-direction) on the order of 1.0 μm to 500 mm.

0041The irregularities introduced may be distributed across the optical substrate in an orderly, semi-orderly, random, or quasi-random manner.

0042<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 4A and 4B</figref> illustrate another specific embodiment of irregularities <b>42</b>, which take the form of flat-bottom valleys defined by longitudinal, narrow-band, non-facet flat irregularities extending substantially along the entire length of the valleys between adjacent prism blocks <b>35</b>. (It is noted that defects <b>40</b> are not shown in these and further figures discussed below, to simplify illustration and discussion.) In the embodiment of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 4A and 4B</figref>, the width of the flat-bottom valleys is uniform along the valleys and the widths of the different valleys are same. The width of the valleys may vary along the valleys. Further, the valleys may vary in width and shape, as illustrated in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 5A-5C</figref>.

0043<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 5A to 5C</figref> illustrate sectional views of other embodiments of longitudinal irregularities <b>42</b>, varying from the embodiment shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 4</figref>. The irregularities <b>42</b> having flat bottom valleys may be distributed every n prism blocks <b>35</b> (n may vary across the substrate). In the particular illustrated embodiment of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5A</figref>, an irregularity <b>42</b> having a flat bottom valley of a particular width (e.g., same width for the irregularities <b>42</b>) is disposed every three prism blocks <b>35</b>. The valleys <b>37</b> may have a valley bottom thickness D. <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5B</figref> illustrates another embodiment in which an irregularity <b>42</b> having a flat bottom valley of a particular width (e.g., same width for the irregularities <b>42</b>) is disposed alternately every two to three prism blocks <b>35</b>. In this embodiment, valleys <b>37</b> may have a valley bottom of substantially zero thickness (i.e., the bottom of the valley is substantially coplanar with the light input surface <b>32</b> or the top surface of the base layer <b>31</b>).

0044While each of the above discussed embodiments illustrates a single type of irregularities <b>42</b> uniformly distributed, the irregularities <b>42</b> may comprise a combination of two of more types of intentionally introduced irregularities discussed above, which may be distributed in a random, quasi-random, orderly, or quasi-orderly manner.

0045<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5C</figref> illustrates further varying distribution of irregularities <b>42</b>. In <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5C</figref> (which could be a sectional view at a particular y-location of an optical substrate <b>30</b> as shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 3</figref>). The valleys <b>37</b><i>a</i>, <b>37</b><i>b </i>and <b>37</b><i>c </i>have different valley bottom thicknesses. There is an irregularity <b>42</b><i>a </i>having a non-facet flat section in the form of flat-bottom valley <b>37</b><i>d </i>having a particular valley bottom thickness. There is also an irregularity <b>42</b><i>b </i>having a non-facet flat section that is defined by an opening extending through the valley <b>37</b><i>e </i>present between two adjacent prism blocks <b>35</b>. Such opening has side walls through the valley section. Irregularities <b>42</b><i>c </i>and <b>42</b><i>d </i>have flat bottom valleys <b>37</b><i>f </i>and <b>37</b><i>g </i>with different widths. The distribution variation shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 5C</figref> may be further varied across the entire substrate, or repeated across the entire substrate. For example, the width could range in the order of 1.5 to 200 μm. The distribution may or may not be repeated within a range of 200 μm to 200 mm.

0046In another aspect of the present invention, in-kind irregularities are introduced to optical substrates that have a two or three-dimensionally varying, structured light output surface that comprises an irregular prism structure, and a non-structured, smooth, planar, light input surface. In one embodiment of the present invention, the light output surface and the light input surface are generally parallel to each other in the overall optical substrate structure (i.e., do not form an overall substrate structure that is generally tapered, concave, or convex). The irregular prism structure at the light output surface may be viewed as comprising longitudinal irregular prism blocks arranged laterally (side-by-side), defining peaks and valleys. A facet of the longitudinal irregular prism block is defined between each adjacent peak and valley. The longitudinally varying prismatic structure has one or more of the following structural characteristics. At least a plurality of the irregular prism blocks have a large end tapering to a small end, or from a large width to a narrow width, or from a large peak height to a small peak height. Adjacent peaks, adjacent valleys, and/or adjacent peak and valley are not parallel within at least a range of lateral prism blocks. The adjacent peaks, adjacent valleys, and/or peak and valley may alternate from parallel to non-parallel in an orderly, semi-orderly, random, or quasi-random manner. Similarly, the non-parallel peaks, valleys and/or peak and valley may alternate between convergence to divergence in reference to a particular longitudinal direction, in an orderly, semi-orderly, random, or pseudo-random manner. All the peaks do not lie in the same plane, and all the valleys may or may not lie in the same plane. The sections taken across the peaks and valleys in the longitudinal direction are not constant. The pitch between adjacent peaks, adjacent valleys, and/or adjacent peak and valley varies laterally across the prism blocks in an orderly, semi-orderly, random, or quasi-random manner.

0047The irregular prism structure at the light output surface may also be viewed as comprising side-by-side or lateral rows of irregular prism blocks, wherein each longitudinal row of irregular prism blocks may be viewed as comprising a plurality of irregular prism blocks connected end to end in a continuous manner. In one embodiment, the smaller end of one prism block is connected to the smaller end of another prism block along the same row, and the larger end of one prism block is connected to the larger end of another prism block along the same row. The lateral adjacent peaks, adjacent valleys, and/or adjacent peak and valley are not parallel. The peak and valley structure across the prism blocks may have further structural characteristics similar to the previous embodiment. The adjacent irregular prism blocks may be irregular longitudinal sections having the same length, or random or quasi-random irregular sections having different lengths. In yet another embodiment of the present invention, one or more facets of each prism block sections may be substantially flat, or curved (convexly and/or concavely).

0048The foregoing optical substrate structure has been discussed in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/450,145, which had been incorporated by reference herein.

0049<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 6 and 7</figref> illustrate the top plan view of peaks and valleys of prism blocks having at least some of the above noted characteristics. (Note, in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 6 and 7</figref>, defects <b>40</b> are not shown to simplify illustration and discussion.) <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 6</figref> represents the embodiment in which the irregular prism blocks are arranged in a zig-zag pattern. <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref> represents the embodiment in which the irregular prism blocks are arranged to form a curved pattern. <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 6 and 7</figref> illustrate the top plan view of optical substrate <b>30</b> of luminance enhancement film <b>26</b>. In these figures, peaks <b>36</b> and valleys <b>37</b> of the prism blocks <b>35</b> are not parallel (i.e., in a lateral x-direction) over a range of laterally and/or longitudinally adjoining prism blocks <b>35</b>. Some of the valleys <b>37</b> and/or peaks <b>36</b> may not lie in the same horizontal plane within the substrate, as the facets of the prism blocks of one row intersect the facets of the prism blocks of another row, with the lines of intersection of the facets (i.e., the valleys) at different heights from the light input surface <b>32</b>, depending in part on the width of the prism blocks. It is noted that in the embodiments of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 6 and 7</figref>, one prism block <b>35</b> intersect another prism block <b>35</b> in both the longitudinal and lateral directions.

0050In the embodiment of <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref>, the peaks <b>36</b> and/or valleys <b>37</b>, and/or the facets <b>33</b> of one or more prism blocks <b>35</b> may be substantially curved (convex and/or concave) in the plane of the optical substrate <b>30</b>. The peaks <b>36</b> and/or valleys <b>37</b> may follow wavy lines. The vertex angle of the peaks <b>36</b> of a wavy prism block may or may not have a constant angle at x-z plane sectional views along the y-direction. It is noted that on either side of a peak <b>36</b>, other than making both facets <b>33</b> curved, one facet <b>33</b> may be curved and the other facet <b>33</b> may be flat. Different peaks <b>36</b> follow different curves, which may include a section of only one curvature, or many sections having different curvatures in a random, quasi-random, orderly or semi-orderly manner along a particular peak. As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 7</figref>, adjoining prism blocks across the structured surface may have different curved or wavy peaks and/or facet surfaces, having curvatures differing in a random, quasi-random, orderly or semi-orderly manner.

0051In both <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIGS. 6 and 7</figref>, non-facet flat irregularities <b>42</b> are provided. Specifically for the specific embodiments illustrated, the irregularities <b>42</b> are in the form of flat-bottom valleys in a longitudinal gap form of a limited length between adjacent prism blocks <b>35</b>. The prism blocks <b>35</b> may or may not have different lengths of segment, different heights, different curvature, and different sizes at both ends of a single prism and/or the prisms. The shapes of these irregularities <b>42</b> are varied by the lengths, heights, curvatures and sizes of the prisms accordingly.

0052The irregularities are schematically shown to be distributed in a row in a lateral direction, but other distribution may be adopted, in a random, quasi-random, orderly or quasi-orderly manner. These additional embodiments may have irregularities <b>42</b> that share features and characteristics of those irregularities discussed in connection with earlier embodiments.

0053As an example to illustrate the relative dimensions of an optical substrate in accordance with the present invention, the peak heights are on the order of 10 to 200 micrometers, the valley heights (bottom thickness) are on the order of 0.3 to 10 micrometers, the thickness of the base layer <b>31</b> is on the order of 25 to 1000 micrometers. The foregoing dimensions are intended to illustrate the fact that the structured surface features are microstructures, in the micrometers range. By way of example, the overall size of the area of the optical substrate may vary on the order of 2 mm to 10 m in both width and length (and even larger dimensions possible), depending on the particular application (e.g., in a flat panel display of a cellular phone, or in a significantly larger flat panel display of a TV monitor). The characteristic size of the prism blocks on the structured surface of the optical substrate need not change appreciably with different overall optical substrate size.

0054The optical cosmetic defect masking effects of the intentionally introduced predefined irregularities would depend on at least one of the following factors (e.g., relating to the non-facet flat sections, per unit area of the optical substrate, in relation to anticipated defects): (a) physical attributes, such as number, dimension, size, shape, geometry, types and combination of such physical attributes, (b) coverage of introduced irregularities, such as area, distribution pattern, mixture/combination of types of irregularities; (c) relationship of the irregularities to the anticipated structural defects and the physical attributes and coverage thereof; and (d) the contrast and resolution of features (e.g., defects <b>40</b>, irregularities <b>42</b>, etc.) perceivable in an image (e.g., by the naked eyes of an average person). Accordingly, such factors are taken into consideration when predefining the irregularities to be intentionally introduced into the optical substrate. Concerning (d), it is noted that contrast of a feature, e.g., a defect (e.g., non-facet flat section of a flat-bottom valley) in relation to its surrounding areas in an image allow such feature to be perceivable by naked eyes (e.g., as a white spot). Further, when there are sufficient irregularities distributed, the intended distribution of discrete irregularities creates a more uniformed perception that reduces the prominence of isolated defects. In addition, where the distance between two features is closer than the resolution of naked eyes, the naked eyes may no longer be able to perceive and resolve the features as separate and distinct. Therefore, more closely spaced irregularities may further create a blended image appearance to mask or reduce perceivable defects.

0055The purpose to distribute the irregularities is to appropriately allocate irregularities over the whole structured light output surface, so that when viewed by naked eyes, the whole surface would look like a uniform plane. Each single irregularity should not be seen individually, because they are so small that they would not be perceived by the capability of a viewer's eyes with respect to resolution or contrast between the areas with and without irregularity. The size of each irregularity and the distances between adjacent irregularities either in longitudinal (y) or on transverse (x) direction are defined also with this purpose in mind. The structural irregularities should be in sufficient presence to substantially mask at least small optical cosmetic defects anticipated and/or typically encountered in the manufacturing process and/or subsequent handling, which would otherwise be observable in the finished luminance enhancement film, and/or when it has been placed into service in an LCD panel, to a person's naked eye.

0056For example, a number of scratched spots with a width about 9 μm and a length from 15 to 40 μm is lined up as a 500 μm (over 10 prisms) white line defect which could be masked by distributing non-facet flat sections with a width of about 5 μm and a length between 60 and 100 μm randomly. All these scratched spot defects are blended together with the irregularities and provides a blended view that would be perceived as being more uniform in image quality.

0057The optical substrate <b>30</b> may be formed with an optically transparent material, such as acrylic. The base substrate <b>31</b> may be of PET material, but may be made from the same transparent material as the optical substrate <b>30</b>, which provides additional structural support to the relatively thin optical substrate <b>30</b>. The optical substrate <b>30</b> may be flexible enough to be manufactured in a roll, which is laid on and bonded to the separate base substrate <b>31</b>. While the thickness of the base substrate may be on the order of 25 to 1000 micrometers thick, the thickness of the base substrate may be thinner or thicker than this range, depending on the particular application. Generally, though not required, larger size optical substrate may have a thicker base substrate to provide better support, and a smaller size optical substrate may require a thinner base substrate for smaller scale applications.

0058The predefined irregularities intentionally introduced into the structured optical substrate <b>30</b> may be formed by prior art processes for forming microstructures on optical substrates, which are configured to provide the predefined structural irregularities in accordance with the present invention. For example, the structured surface of optical substrate of the present invention may be generated in accordance with a number of process techniques, including micromachining using hard tools to form molds or the like for the prismatic profile having the predefined structural irregularities described above. The hard tools may be very small diamond tools mounted on CNC (Computer Numeric Control) machines (e.g. turning, milling and ruling/shaping machines). Furthermore, known STS (Slow Tool Servo) and FTS (Fast Tool Servo) are examples of the devices. U.S. Pat. No. 6,581,286, for instance, discloses one of the applications of the FTS for making grooves on an optical film by using thread cutting method. To provide predefined structural irregularities, these machines may include certain perturbation means to assist the tools moving with small shifts and making prisms, and hence non-facet flat irregularities having different levels of irregularities. Known STS, FTS may include ultrasonic vibration apparatus to provide perturbation or vibration to accomplish structural irregularities predefined in the mold. By using the devices to form surfaces in the mold in relation to increasing degrees of freedom, three-dimensionally varying regular and/or irregular prisms and flats of the structured surfaces of the optical substrates disclosed above can be obtained.

0059The master may be used to mold the optical substrate directly or used in electroforming a duplicate of the master, which duplicate is used to mold the optical substrate. The mold may be in the form of a belt, a drum, a plate, or a cavity. The mold may be used to form the prismatic structure on a substrate through hot embossing of the substrate, and/or through the addition of an ultraviolet curing or thermal setting materials in which the structures are formed. The mold may also be used to form the optical substrate through injection molding. The substrate or coating material may be any organic, inorganic or hybrid optically transparent material and may include suspended diffusion, birefringent or index of refraction modifying particles.

0060While the foregoing embodiments are illustrated and discussed to include an optical substrate <b>30</b> supported by a separate base layer <b>31</b>, it is within the scope and spirit of the present invention that the base layer <b>31</b> is not present, but the optical substrate may have a base portion which may be unitary or monolithic to the prism blocks <b>35</b> in the structured surface (i.e., formed from the same piece of material). Such base portion would be equivalent to, in place of, and share similar characteristics as, the separate base layer <b>31</b> discussed above. One can view an optical substrate having a unitary base portion to be comprising a prism structured layer and an adjoining base layer, wherein such two layers are in a continuum, monolithic structure. Further, a separate base layer may be provided in addition to such base portion. The base portion, and/or base layer, should be of sufficient thickness to provide structural integrity to the final luminance enhancement film.

0061While the anticipated defects <b>40</b> and predefined irregularities intentionally introduced are described as non-facet flat sections in the illustrated embodiments herein (discussed above and to be discussed below), if the anticipated defects in the optical substrate are other than non-facet flat sections, the in-kind irregularities intentional introduced into the optical substrate would likewise take on in-kind attributes other than non-facet flat sections.

0062While the above-illustrated embodiments refer to intentionally introducing predefined in-kind irregularities to mask anticipated defects, in another aspect of the present invention, the irregularities introduced need not be in-kind to all the defects. Regardless of defects anticipated, the irregularities introduced may simply be predefined non-facet flat sections (e.g., flat-bottom valleys, and/or flat-top peaks, and/or openings exposing sections of underlying base layer). This may still mask defects beyond non-facet flat section defects found on the prism structure of the optical substrate created by, such as, for example, scratches, cutting marks, cracks, indentations and/or other unintended structural defects in the prism structure, and/or foreign particles or materials introduced during molding process, which may or may not be subsequently released from the prism structure. The defects may be found anywhere on the prism structure (e.g., prism peaks, valley and/or facets, and/or underlying layer, if present, which supports the optical substrate).

0063The predefined irregularities introduced may not mask all types of defects present in an actual luminance enhancement substrate. The predefined irregularities to be deployed in an actual luminance enhancement substrate may comprise several types of irregularities, including non-facet flat sections, in-kind or otherwise, and/or other irregularities that are neither in-kind nor non-facet flat sections, or a combination of the foregoing.

0064Further, the following variations are well within the scope and spirit of the present invention. The peak and valley vertex angles may or may not vary across laterally adjoining rows. It is noted that the geometries (e.g., overall size, peak and valley angles, etc.) may be different for different prism blocks <b>35</b> in the optical substrate <b>30</b>. The pitch between adjacent peaks <b>36</b>, adjacent valleys <b>37</b>, and/or adjacent peak <b>36</b> and valley <b>37</b> may vary in an orderly, semi-orderly, random, or quasi-random manner. It is noted that an array, pattern or configuration of a group of random irregular prism blocks may repeat over a range of area or length over the overall structured light output surface of the optical substrate <b>30</b>, resulting in an overall orderly, semi-orderly or quasi-random pattern or arrangement for the overall optical substrate. Adjacent peaks, adjacent valleys, and/or adjacent peak and valley may or may not be parallel within at least a range of lateral prism blocks. The adjacent peaks <b>36</b>, adjacent valleys <b>37</b>, and/or adjacent peak <b>36</b> and valley <b>37</b> may alternate from parallel to non-parallel, in an orderly, semi-orderly, random, or quasi-random manner. Similarly, adjacent non-parallel peaks <b>36</b>, adjacent valleys <b>37</b> and/or adjacent peak <b>36</b> and valley <b>37</b>, may alternate between convergence to divergence (in reference to the same general longitudinal direction of the prism blocks), in an orderly, semi-orderly, random, or pseudo-random manner. Sections of the optical substrate <b>30</b> taken across the peaks <b>36</b> and valleys <b>37</b> in an x-z plane at various locations along the y-direction and/or in a general longitudinal direction of a particular peak or valley may or may not be constant.

0065In accordance with the present invention, the optical substrate comprises a prismatic, structured light output surface having predefined, intentionally introduced irregularities, which enhances brightness and masks otherwise user perceivable optical cosmetic defects, when applied in an LCD for example. An LCD incorporating the inventive optical substrate in accordance with the present invention may be deployed in an electronic device. As shown in <figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 8</figref>, an electronic <b>110</b> (which may be one of a PDA, mobile phone, television, display monitor, portable computer, refrigerator, etc.) comprises the inventive LCD <b>10</b> (<figref idref="DRAWINGS">FIG. 2</figref>) in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The LCD <b>10</b> comprises the inventive optical substrate described above. The electronic device <b>110</b> may further include within a suitable housing, a user input interface such as keys and buttons (schematically represented by the block <b>116</b>), image data control electronics, such as a controller (schematically represented by block <b>112</b>) for managing image data flow to the LCD panel <b>10</b>, electronics specific to the electronic device <b>110</b>, which may include a processor, A/D converters, memory devices, data storage devices, etc. (schematically collectively represented by block <b>118</b>), and a power source such as a power supply, battery or jack for external power source (schematically represented by block <b>114</b>), which components are well known in the art.

0066While particular embodiments of the invention have been described herein for the purpose of illustrating the invention and not for the purpose of limiting the same, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous variations of the details, materials, and arrangements of parts may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.